Inlet valve apparatus and valve system

ABSTRACT

An inlet valve apparatus for use with a snorkel comprises a snorkel cap having an air inlet and an air outlet. An air passageway connects the air inlet and the air outlet in fluid communication one with the other. A buoyant float valve is movable between an open position whereat air can pass from the air inlet to the air outlet and a closed position whereat air and water are precluded from passing from the air inlet to the air outlet. The inlet valve apparatus is mounted onto the top end of a snorkel such that the air outlet is in fluid communication with the snorkel. A related valve system comprises a flexible hose member, a floating member, and a diverter valve apparatus that is mounted onto the top end of a snorkel such that its air outlet is in fluid communication with the snorkel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to valves and valve systems for use withsnorkels, and more particularly to valves and valve systems for use withsnorkels, which valves and valve systems permit a user to dive below thesurface of the water and swim a few feet below the surface of the water,while using a snorkel, without inhaling water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Snorkelling is a form of swimming that is enjoyed in many areas of theworld. While snorkelling, it is common to either dive down a few feet orswim a few feet below the surface of the water in order to see rockformations, fish, coral formations, and so on, more closely. If aswimmer dives down from the surface while using a conventional snorkel,he must hold his breath and preferably remove the snorkel from hismouth. This is undesirable as it is easy to inhale water while doingthis. Further, it is not possible to use a conventional snorkel whileswimming a few feet below the surface of the water.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,102 issued Oct. 16, 2001 to Giroux et al discloses aDual Air Passage Snorkel. This snorkel is used when diving below thesurface and has an elongate body with an air inlet passage and an airoutlet passage. The air inlet passage terminates in an inlet port at thetop end of the elongate body and the air outlet passage terminates at anexhaust port at the top end of the elongate body. A diaphragm valve islocated within each port, with each diaphragm valve biassed to anormally closed condition. The diaphragm valves control the air flow inthe air passages such that air is inhaled through the air inlet passageand is exhausted through the air outlet passage.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,165 issued Apr. 22, 1997 to Huang discloses aSnorkel Diving Device. The snorkel diving device has a floating disk, ahard snorkel passing through the floating disk, a snorkel case incovering the upper end of the hard snorkel, and a hose connecting thehard snorkel to a mouth piece joint. There is no valve at the top end ofthe hard snorkel to preclude water from travelling down the hose to themouthpiece.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inlet valveapparatus for use with a snorkel, which inlet valve apparatus permits aswimmer to dive below the surface of the water without inhaling waterthrough the snorkel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve system foruse with the snorkel, which valve system permits a swimmer to swim underwater while using the snorkel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there isdisclosed a novel inlet valve apparatus for use with a snorkel. Theinlet valve apparatus comprises a snorkel cap having an air inlet and anair outlet. An air passageway connects the air inlet and the air outletin fluid communication one with another. A float valve is movablebetween an open position whereat air can pass from the air inlet to theair outlet and a closed position whereat air and water are precludedfrom passing from the air inlet to the air outlet. The float valve isbuoyant in water. There is means for mounting the inlet valve apparatusonto the top end of a snorkel such that the air outlet is in fluidcommunication with the snorkel.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there isdisclosed a novel valve system for use with for use with a snorkel. Thevalve system comprises a flexible hose member having an inlet end and anoutlet end. A floating member is operatively mounted on the flexiblehose member adjacent the inlet end thereof. An inlet valve apparatus isoperatively mounted on the flexible hose member adjacent the inlet endthereof. A diverter valve apparatus is operatively mounted on theflexible hose member at the outlet end thereof. The diverter valveapparatus has an air inlet in fluid communication with the outlet end ofthe flexible hose member, an air outlet connectable in fluidcommunication with the snorkel, an expired-air outlet in fluidcommunication with the air outlet, and an air-pressure-operated valvemeans disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet such that airflow from the air outlet is precluded from travelling to the air inletand is diverted to the expired-air outlet. There is means for mountingthe diverter valve onto the top end of a snorkel such that the airoutlet of the diverter valve is in fluid communication with the snorkel.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention,as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements ofthe structure, and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description and the appended claims with reference tothe accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly describedherein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the inletvalve apparatus and valve system according to the present invention, asto its structure, organization, use and method of operation, togetherwith further objectives and advantages thereof, will be betterunderstood from the following drawings in which a presently preferredembodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example.It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for thepurpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as adefinition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the inletvalve apparatus and valve system according to the present invention, foruse with a snorkel;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the inlet valve apparatus of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the inlet valve apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the inlet valveapparatus of FIG. 3, taken along section line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the hollow stem andouter cap portion of the inlet valve apparatus of FIG. 3, taken alongsection line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the float valve ofthe inlet valve apparatus of FIG. 3, taken along section line 6-6 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the floating member of the valve system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the floating memberof the valve system of FIG. 7, taken along section line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the diverter valve apparatus of the valvesystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the diverter valveapparatus of the valve system of FIG. 9, taken along section line 10-10of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the inlet valveapparatus of FIG. 4, with the float valve in an open position;

FIG. 12 is a is a cross-sectional side elevational view similar to FIG.11, with the float valve in a closed position;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the diverter valveapparatus of FIG. 10, wherein air is travelling from the air inlet tothe air outlet;

FIG. 14 is a is a cross-sectional side elevational view similar to FIG.13, wherein air is travelling from the air outlet to the expired-airoutlet; and,

FIG. 15 is an elevational view of the inlet valve apparatus of FIG. 4,mounted onto a snorkel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 through 15, which show a firstpreferred embodiment of the inlet valve apparatus and valve systemaccording to the present invention, as indicated by general referencenumeral 20. Reference will first be made to FIG. 1, which shows a valvesystem, as indicated by the general reference numeral 20, for use withfor use with a snorkel 22. The valve system 20 comprises a flexible hosemember 30 having an inlet end 32 and an outlet end 34. A floating member40 is operatively mounted on the flexible hose member 30 adjacent theinlet end 32 thereof. The floating member 40 has an air passageway 42having an air inlet 44 and an air outlet 46.

An inlet valve apparatus 50 is operatively mounted on the flexible hosemember 30 at the inlet end 32 thereof, as will be discussed in greaterdetail subsequently.

A diverter valve apparatus 60 is operatively mounted on the flexiblehose member 30 at the outlet end 34 thereof. The diverter valveapparatus 60 has an air inlet 62 in fluid communication with the outletend 34 of the flexible hose member 30 and an air outlet 64 connectablein fluid communication with the snorkel 22. The diverter valve apparatus60 also has an expired-air outlet 66 in fluid communication with the airoutlet 34. There is an air-pressure-operated valve means 68 disposedbetween the air inlet 62 and the air outlet 64 such that air flow fromthe air outlet 64 is precluded from travelling to the air inlet 62 andis diverted to the expired-air outlet 66. There is also means, asindicate by the general reference numeral 61, for mounting the divertervalve apparatus 60 onto the top end of a snorkel 22, as indicated bygeneral reference numeral 69, such that the air outlet 64 of thediverter valve apparatus is in fluid communication with the snorkel 22.As illustrated, the means 61 for mounting the diverter valve apparatus60 comprises a slotted end portion 61 a having four vertically disposedslots 61 b therein. The slotted end portion 61 a has exterior threads 61c and a co-operating threaded collar 61 d is used to tighten the slottedend portion 61 a onto the snorkel 22.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 2 through 10, there is a novel inlet valveapparatus 50 for use with the snorkel 22. The inlet valve apparatus 50comprises a snorkel cap 70 having an air inlet 71 and an air outlet 72.As can be best seen in FIGS. 2 through 4, the snorkel cap 70 comprises asubstantially vertically disposed hollow stem 74 having a top end 75 anda bottom end 76, and an outer cap portion 77 having a roof portion 78and a sidewall portion 79 and being secured to the hollow stem 74 insurrounding relation over the top end 75 thereof. Preferably, thevertically disposed hollow stem 74 and the outer cap portion 77 are eachsubstantially cylindrical. The outer cap portion 77 is secured to thehollow stem 74 by means of an annular ring 73 having at least one airpassage aperture therein, and in the preferred embodiment illustrated,having four air passage apertures 73 a therein. The air inlet 71 of thesnorkel cap 70 is disposed in the sidewall portion 79 of the outer capportion 77. The air outlet 72 of the snorkel cap 70 is disposed at thebottom end 76 of the hollow stem 74. There is also an air passageway 77connecting the air inlet 71 and the air outlet 72 in fluid communicationone with another. As can be best seen in FIG. 4, the air passageway 77connecting the air inlet 71 and the air outlet 72 in fluid communicationone with the other is disposed in the hollow stem 74.

The inlet valve apparatus 50 is mounted onto the floating member 40,such that the air outlet 72 of the air passageway 77 is in fluidcommunication with the air inlet 44 of the air passageway 42 in thefloating member 40. The air outlet 46 of the air passageway 42 in thefloating member 40 is in fluid communication with the flexible hosemember 30.

A float valve 80 that is preferably substantially cylindrical in shapeis mounted in sliding relation on the hollow stem 74 and substantiallysurrounds the hollow stem 74. The float valve 80 is movable between anopen position and a closed position.

In the open position of the float valve 80, air can pass from the airinlet to the air outlet, thus permitting air to be supplied to aswimmer. The float valve 80 is shaped and dimensioned to fit in closefitting relation within the outer cap portion 77, to thereby cover theair inlet 71 disposed in the sidewall portion 79 of the outer capportion 77. Accordingly, in the closed position, the float valve 80seals off the air inlet disposed in the outer cap portion 77. Air andwater are thereby precluded from passing from the air inlet to the airoutlet.

Further, the float valve 80 is buoyant in water, so that the float valve80 is biased to its closed position, as is best seen in FIG. 12, whenthe float valve 80 is in water. In this manner, although a swimmer mustcannot receive further air and can stay under water only for a limitedperiod of time, water is also precluded from entering the valve system20 and therefore the snorkel 22. Accordingly, a swimmer does not need todo anything such as close his mouth or remove the snorkel 22 from hismouth when diving under the surface of the water.

The float valve 80 also includes a tray portion 82 for receiving watertherein. The tray portion 82 is preferably disposed at the bottom end ofthe float valve 80 and is annularly disposed around the hollow stem 74.The weight of water within the tray portion 82 causes the tray portion82 to be biased to its open position when the float valve 80 is abovethe water. In this manner, the float valve 80 is readily returned to itsopen position when a swimmer surfaces, thus allowing the swimmer tobreath through the snorkel 22 and valve system 20.

There is also means for mounting the inlet valve apparatus 50 onto thetop end of the snorkel 22 such that the air outlet is in fluidcommunication with the snorkel 22, as indicated by the general referencenumeral 90, and as can be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. This means 90 formounting is also used to mount the inlet valve apparatus 50 onto thefloating member 40 at the top end 31 of the flexible hose member 30 ofthe valve system 20. As illustrated, the means for mounting 90 the inletvalve apparatus 50 comprises a slotted end portion 92 having fourvertically disposed slots 94 therein. The slotted end portion 92 hasexterior threads 96 and a co-operating threaded collar 98 is used totighten the slotted end portion 92 onto the snorkel 22 or a flexiblehose member 30.

In use, when a swimmer is swimming along the water's surface, the inletvalve apparatus 50 would be attached directly to the snorkel 22, as isshown in FIG. 15. The float valve 80 in the inlet valve apparatus 50 isin its open position, as can be best seen in FIG. 11, due to the forceof gravity. When a swimmer inhales, the buoyant float valve 80 is in itsopen postion, and air can travel through the inlet valve apparatus 50,as indicated by arrows “A” in FIG. 11. When a swimmer submerges, thebuoyant float valve 80 moves upwardly to its closed position, asindicated by arrow “B” in FIG. 12, thereby sealing off the air inlet 71in the outer cap portion 77 of the snorkel cap 70, and thus precludingwater from entering the snorkel 22.

In use, when a swimmer is swimming below the water level and cannot usea conventional snorkel 22, even with the inlet valve apparatus 50attached directly to the snorkel 22, a swimmer can use the entire valvesystem 20, as is shown in FIG. 1. The floating member 40 keeps the inletvalve apparatus 50 above the surface of the water. The float valve 80 inthe inlet valve apparatus 50 is in its open position, as can be bestseen in FIG. 11, due to the force of gravity. When a swimmer inhales,the air-pressure-operated valve means 68 in the diverter valve apparatus60 permits air to travel from the inlet valve apparatus 50, through thehose, through the diverter valve apparatus 60 and to the snorkel 22, asindicated by arrows “C” in FIG. 13. When a swimmer exhales, theair-pressure-operated valve means 68 in the diverter valve causes theexhaled air to travel from the air outlet 64 of the diverter valve tothe expired-air outlet 66 of the diverter valve, and into thesurrounding water, as indicated by arrows “D” in FIG. 14.

In the event that a swimmer submerges too deep, the buoyant float valve80 moves upwardly to its closed position, as can be best seen in FIG.12, thereby sealing off the air inlet 71 in the outer cap portion 77 ofthe snorkel cap 70, and thus precluding water from entering the flexiblehose member 30 and therefore the snorkel 22.

As can be understood from the above description and from theaccompanying drawings, the present invention provides an inlet valveapparatus for use with a snorkel, which inlet valve apparatus permits aswimmer to dive below the surface of the water without inhaling waterthrough the snorkel, and a valve system for use with the snorkel, whichvalve system permits a swimmer to swim under water while using thesnorkel, all of which features are unknown in the prior art.

Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those whoare knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations areconsidered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further,other modifications and alterations may be used in the design andmanufacture of the inlet valve apparatus and valve system for us with asnorkel, according to the present invention without departing from thespirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

1. An inlet valve apparatus for use with a snorkel, said inlet valveapparatus comprising: a snorkel cap having an air inlet and an airoutlet; an air passageway connecting said air inlet and said air outletin fluid communication one with another; and, a float valve movablebetween an open position whereat air can pass from said air inlet tosaid air outlet and a closed position whereat air and water areprecluded from passing from said air inlet to said air outlet; whereinsaid float valve is buoyant in water; means for mounting said inletvalve apparatus onto the top end of a snorkel such that said air outletis in fluid communication with said snorkel.
 2. The inlet valveapparatus of claim 1, wherein said snorkel cap comprises a substantiallyvertically disposed hollow stem having a top end and a bottom end, andan outer cap portion having a roof portion and a sidewall portion andbeing secured to said hollow stem in surrounding relation over the topend thereof.
 3. The inlet valve apparatus of claim 2, wherein said airpassageway connecting said air inlet and said air outlet in fluidcommunication one with the other is disposed in said hollow stem.
 4. Theinlet valve apparatus of claim 3, wherein said air outlet of saidsnorkel cap is disposed at the bottom end of said hollow stem.
 5. Theinlet valve apparatus of claim 4, wherein said air inlet of said snorkelcap is disposed in said sidewall portion of said outer cap portion. 6.The inlet valve apparatus of claim 5, wherein said outer cap portion issecured to said hollow stem by means of an annular ring having at leastone air passage aperture therein.
 7. The inlet valve apparatus of claim6, wherein said vertically disposed hollow stem and said outer capportion are substantially cylindrical.
 8. The inlet valve apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said float valve is mounted in sliding relation on saidhollow stem.
 9. The inlet valve apparatus of claim 1, wherein said floatvalve substantially surrounds said hollow stem.
 10. The inlet valveapparatus of claim 9, wherein said float valve is substantiallycylindrical in shape.
 11. The inlet valve apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid float valve is shaped and dimensioned to fit in close fittingrelation within said outer cap portion, to thereby cover said air inletdisposed in said sidewall portion of said outer cap portion.
 12. Theinlet valve apparatus of claim 11, wherein said float valve includes atray portion for receiving water therein.
 13. The inlet valve apparatusof claim 12, wherein said tray portion is disposed at the bottom end ofsaid float valve.
 14. The inlet valve apparatus of claim 13, whereinsaid tray portion is annularly disposed around said hollow stem.
 15. Avalve system for use with for use with a snorkel, said valve systemcomprising: a flexible hose member having an inlet end and an outletend; a floating member operatively mounted on said flexible hose memberadjacent said inlet end thereof; an inlet valve apparatus operativelymounted on said flexible hose member adjacent said inlet end thereof; adiverter valve apparatus operatively mounted on said flexible hosemember at said outlet end thereof, said diverter valve apparatus havingan air inlet in fluid communication with said outlet end of saidflexible hose member, an air outlet connectable in fluid communicationwith said snorkel, an expired-air outlet in fluid communication withsaid air outlet, and an air-pressure-operated valve means disposedbetween said air inlet and said air outlet such that air flow from saidair outlet is precluded from travelling to said air inlet and isdiverted to said expired-air outlet; and, means for mounting saiddiverter valve onto the top end of said snorkel such that said airoutlet of said diverter valve is in fluid communication with saidsnorkel.